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Postgraduate Research Support Scheme
The Postgraduate Research Support Scheme (PRSS) provides University funding to attend conferences, support your fieldwork or specialist services.
- Overview and funding
- Eligibility
- How to apply
Overview and funding
COVID-19 update: PRSS Round 2, 2020
The University is committed to supporting research students throughout this period of COVID-19. As in previous years, a smaller second round of PRSS has been arranged for 2020, with not all Faculties and University Schools participating in this round. Check the Eligibility page for further details.
Applications for PRSS Round 2 in 2020 will open 12 October and close 11.59pm on 13 November.
PRSS and travel
PRSS is discretionary funding and is therefore subject to the safeguarding measures developed by the University on 3 March 2020. PRSS can only be used for international travel as a reimbursement for travel that was approved (by Head of School or Dean), paid for and completed by 3 March 2020 or for conferences that are being attended online. The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that international travel is not likely to be covered by insurance, therefore students should not be travelling until it is declared safe to do so. PRSS funding can still be used for conference registration in 2020, as many conferences are set up using virtual attendance. It cannot be used for intended travel in 2021 or later.
Funding categories
Due to COVID-19, there are restrictions on conference expenses. You should refer to your faculty or school PRSS criteria to check whether any conference expenses may be applied for in your discipline.
You may be eligible if you author and present, or author and are accepted to present, a paper or poster related to your research. You are not eligible to apply under this category if you attend a conference without presenting, or if you present a paper or poster you have not authored.
You can obtain funding for use of specialist services, a visit to use specialist facilities or learning specialist techniques. Expenses are directly related to your research and beyond what’s provided by your school or department.
You can obtain funding for field expenses related to your research. Funding cannot be used for infrastructure costs normally covered by your school or department.
Funding is available for items that are essential to your research, but are not normally available or are difficult to obtain at the University.
You can obtain funding for equipment that is essential to your research and outside the normal infrastructure provided by your school or department.
You can apply provided you do not hold a scholarship and will submit your thesis in the same calendar year. Printing costs will not be covered, as your thesis is submitted electronically.
Funding available
You are only eligible to receive a maximum of $3500 per year in PRSS funding. Applications may be submitted for funding across one or more of the funding categories described above.
Last updated: 15 January 2021
